Waste is Only Waste if You Waste It - A Study on the Requalification of Concrete Waste Materials

Abstract

This thesis’ outset is an exploration of the impact of the new EU Taxonomy and what consequences requalifying demolition waste materials would have on the possibility of reaching the thresholds set by the EU Taxonomy. The EU Taxonomy have, among other objectives, set an objective towards enabling the transition to a circular economy. Leading to a problem formulation of: How does the requalification of demolition waste material affect the possibility of transitioning construction companies towards using 15% reused, 15% recycled, and 20% renewable construction material in accordance with the forthcoming EU Taxonomy? Seeing as the EU Taxonomy sets requirements for the usage of recycled, reused, and renewable materials used in new construction projects, stakeholders within the industry will be pushed towards adopting practices that can facilitate the usage of said materials. Practices that are not well-established today. My research and work take outset in a sociotechnical understanding of the world, allowing me to research the linkages between actors, institutions, and technology. In deploying this approach, I have identified discrepancies between how our current linear acceleration economy and circular economy value and know demolition waste materials. Using the theories in conjunction with a comprehensive literary review, the thesis showcases that reuse of concrete waste materials was the most significant obstacle to aligning with the EU Taxonomy. Using the theory of Techno Institutional Complexes and lock-in they cause, in conjunction with framing overflow and economisation theories. Enabled the identification of the latent barriers to circular economy principles adoption and used the theory of sociotechnical imaginaries to contextualise the implication of barriers for stakeholders in the construction sector. The overall result of the thesis concludes that by expanding the requalification of demolition waste materials to encompass the lock-in sources, stakeholders within the industry will be more likely to be successful in adopting circular practices, thereby aligning with the taxonomy.

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A master thesis from Aalborg University

Waste is Only Waste if You Waste It - A Study on the Requalification of Concrete Waste Materials